Tutorials/Video/Final Cut Pro Capture
From Bjoern Hassler
Contents |
[edit] 1 Getting things started
Open final cut pro (the clapper board) from the 'dock' (usually bottom of the screen).
Final cut pro should start.
If this warning appears, click 'continue':
In this example, I have opened the 'Kemet 3' project: Make sure that you see the project tab (here saying 'Kemet 3')
[edit] 1.1 Check space
You need to check that you have enough space to capture. Each tape is 13 GB, so you need plenty of space.
Hit 'shift-q' to open system settings. In this case, there is only 38GB left, so we change folder.
Click the 'set' button, choose a drive. You might want to make a 'final cut pro scratch' folder on that drive if there isn't one already. Now we've got 360 GB (space for about 20 tapes):
[edit] 1.2 Check system setup
Also check the system setup: The setup should correspond to the tape format you captured. Let's assume we shot in HDV 1080i.
Hit 'ctrl-q' to enter easy setup. Most of our tapes are in HDV, but the current setup is PAL.
Choose 'HD' from the 'format' popup.
Choose '1080i50' from the 'use' popup. (Do not choose '1080i50 firewire basic').
Now we are set up for HDV 1080i50.
[edit] 1.3 Making sure the deck is connected ok
Now press apple-8 to start capture. If you see this, then the computer cannot talk to the deck.
Press OK.
Then double check that the deck is properly connected to the computer: Check that the system setup matches your tape format. Quit/restart final cut pro, or even the computer.
It also helps if you play the tape while pressing apple-8.
[edit] 2 The capture dialog
Now start playing the tape in the deck, and hit apple-8 again. Capture should just open now. And you should see a preview of your video. Stop the video and rewind the tape.
Now enter a 'reel' setting and a 'description'. You should simply use what it says on the tape. (By now the tape is in the tape deck, so you need to keep a note of this before.) It's essential to get the 'reel' setting and the 'description' right.
[edit] 2.1 Capture now
If you need to capture the whole tape, you could use 'capture now'. Make sure the tape is rewound, then start playing the tape, and hit 'capture now':
Final cut pro will capture the tape, and automatically stop at the end of the tape.
[edit] 2.2 Logging
If you have many takes of several scenes, the you want to capture selectively, and you can log your clips first, and capture later.
[edit] 3 When the tape has finished capturing
When the tape is done, save the project (apple-s). If you have more tapes to be captured from the same project, just continue to capture them.
If you have tapes to be captured for a different project, close the present project, and open the new project. Name your projects sensibly.
